acerb

Adjective

Synonyms: acerbic astringent acid acrid bitter blistering caustic sulfurous sulphurous virulent vitriolic

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

sour or bitter in tasteSynonyms: acerbic astringent
harsh or corrosive in tone“an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”“a barrage of acid comments”“her acrid remarks make her many enemies”“bitter words”“blistering criticism”“caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics”“a sulfurous denunciation”“a vitriolic critique”Synonyms: acerbic acid acrid bitter blistering caustic sulfurous sulphurous virulent vitriolic

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Acerb \A*cerb"\, a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe. See Acrid.] Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp and harsh. [1913 Webster]